Solar power in Pretoria, Tshwane
Solar power in Pretoria has become a hot topic in recent years. For people based in Pretoria thinking of installing solar power the information below might be helpful.
Electricity suppliers in Pretoria
Electricity in Pretoria either supplied by the City of Tshwane municipality or directly by Eskom.
City of Tshwane, Eskom and grid-connected solar systems.
City of Tshwane has a well know process and system of connecting solar systems to their grid to export energy.
Solar system grid connection requirements in Pretoria.
Small-Scale Solar PV Embedded Generation
Pretoria City residents are allowed to produce their own energy by means of solar power and to sell their excess electricity to the municipality.
This is in line with a new initiative called Embedded Power Generation.
Embedded Power Generation is essentially allowing small power generation by residents or small businesses for their own use. Excess power can be sold back to the city when energy generation from the solar system is more than what is used on the premises. At the same time, energy can be bought from the city when their usage on the premises is more than what the solar system can generate.
Residents can generate their own energy from their rooftops during the day, and at night, when one cannot generate solar power, energy can be purchased from the city.
A detailed guide on the requirements to connect a solar system to the grid in the City of Tshwane is available here.
The SSEG application form for City of Tshwane can be downloaded here.
Solar radiation in Pretoria
Pretoria has relatively high solar radiation in comparison with, for example, countries in Europe. The average specific energy yield in Pretoria is around 1 700 kWh / kWp / y. That means for every one kilowatt peak (kWp) of solar panels installed, one can expect it to produce 1 700 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy, on average, per year. For example,1 700 kWh compared to 1 100 kWh in Munich Germany, means one can get 55% more energy production out in Pretoria, than in Munich!
Solar panel orientation in Pretoria
The solar panel orientation in Pretoria that will produce the absolute most energy per year, is: 27 degrees tilt and North orientation. A building's roof is very rarely perfectly North facing at 27 degrees. It is not always necessary to install panels exactly at the right angle and orientation. One has to weigh up the benefit in energy production against the cost of structures making it North facing. In most cases, it is not worth the extra cost. One also runs the risk of wind damage if panels are installed at an angle on a flat roof.
Optimum tilt and azimuth for solar collectors in South Africa using measured data
Conclusion
Solar power in Pretoria makes economical and environmental sense due to:
- Falling cost of solar power and rising electricity tariffs;
- Relatively high solar radiation in Pretoria;
- Regulations in place allowing solar systems to connect to the electricity grid and export energy.
Interested in finding out how you can benefit from solar power in your home or business?
Then fill in our form to request a quote/consultation from qualified, pre-approved installers of Solar power in Pretoria.
05.11.2019 /
